"Do you remember what you were doing when you were 17?" McLachlan asked Parade magazine. "In a way, I feel really bad for her. She can't just be a stupid teenager, because everything she does is so scrutinized. ... I feel bad that she has to grow up in the spotlight the way she is, that she can't just go off and do some stupid things and no one would know about it. Now everybody knows about it."

Cyrus, whose career skyrocketed with her "Hannah Montana" Disney Channel TV show, has taken some hits from media critics since revealing a more risque persona reflecting her upcoming album, "Can't Be Tamed."

"She's been a good girl for so long and she's rebelling now. You know what, she's got a lot of talent. So, there's going to be some pissed off people and some upset kids, and probably some even more upset parents. But it's kind of a natural progression that she does this. I'm sure she's a good kid at heart," McLachlan said.

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